Application of water footprint, virtual water trade and water footprint economic value of citrus fruit productions in Hormozgan Province, Iran

More than 32% of irrigated farmlands in Hormozgan is citrus orchards. Low precipitation, shortage of fresh water resources and agricultural water loss in Hormozgan province has caused a serious water crisis over the past two decades. The aim of this study is estimation of water footprint, water footprint economic value and virtual water trade at counties level and prioritization of citrus production using water footprint and water footprint economic value. The result showed that the average water footprint is 1.74 m3/kg and that the share of green, blue and gray water footprint is 6, 78 and 16%. At the county level, the lowest and highest water footprint is in Roudan (1.22 m3/kg) and Bashagard (2.79 m3/kg), respectively. The water footprint economic value is 0.409–0.179 $/m3. The improper distribution of cultivation in the counties led to a low water footprint economic value at the province (0.3 $/m3). The virtual water trade showed that Hormozgan is self-sufficient in production of citrus fruit and can export 317.61 MCM virtual water to other regions per year. Finally, the result shown that Roudan and Bashagard counties are placed in the first and last place at the county level in citrus fruit production.